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The Latest: Kvitova wins tough opener at French Open

PARIS (AP) — The Latest from the French Open:

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1:38 p.m.

Petra Kvitova has made it through to the second round of the French Open after a tougher-than-expected struggle.

The two-time Wimbledon champion edged 80th-ranked Marina Erakovic of New Zealand 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

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1:04 p.m.

Surprisingly, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has been pushed into a third set on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The fourth-seeded Czech was broken to drop the second set 6-3 after taking the opener 6-4 against Marina Erakovic of New Zealand, who is ranked 80th and never has made it past the third round at any Grand Slam tournament.

They’ve played four times previously, with Kvitova going 4-0.

Over on Court 2, reigning U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic eased into the second round by beating Robin Haase 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

It’s Cilic’s first Grand Slam match since winning his title in New York in September. He missed the Australian Open in January because of an injured shoulder.

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12:41 p.m.

A final cross-court forehand winner at the net and David Ferrer is through to the second round at the French Open.

Runner-up at Roland Garros two years ago, the Spaniard recorded his 300th career match-win on his favorite surface with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 win over 94th-ranked Lukas Lacko on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

In 13 straight appearances at the clay-court major, the seventh-seeded Ferrer has always won his opening match.

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11:38 a.m.

Along with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, there is a third Grand Slam champion in action in the men’s draw at Roland Garros on Tuesday.

Marin Cilic, who won the U.S. Open last year, is up against 80th-ranked Robin Haase on Court 2. Things are going well so far for the ninth-seeded Croat, who has converted both break points and served out the opening set 6-2.

Cilic is playing in his first major of the year after missing the Australian Open because of a shoulder injury.

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10:50 a.m.

There is no Royal Box at Roland Garros, but the “King of Clay” will be on center court on Day 3 with nine-time champion Rafael Nadal in action.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams will also be starting their campaigns in Paris.

Although he won’t play before mid-afternoon, The Associated Press spotted Djokovic in an official car on his way to the stadium, shades on, at about 9:30 a.m. Up against Jarkko Nieminen, the Serb is carrying a 22-match winning streak into the tournament where he chases the only Grand Slam title missing from his collection.

Nadal takes on teenager Quentin Halys, who has never played a match at a major tournament, while Serena will try to do better than her older sister Venus, who lost in the first round on Monday.

Bidding for a third title at the French Open, Serena faces qualifier Andrea Hlavackova.

And what about the weather? It should be cloudy but dry most of the day, with a high of 68 degrees F (20 degrees C).


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